#986 


Duke  University  Libraries 


D03209535R 


,'toJ   2  32? 


/y^^fy 


MESSAGE  OF  THE  PRESIDENT. 


Executive  Department,  March  12,  1862. 

To  the  Senate  and 

House  of  Representatives : 

I  transmit,  herewith,  to  the  Congress,  the  official  report 
of  Col.  William  B.  Taliaferro,  of  the  action  at  Carrock's 
Ford,  July  13,  1861. 

JEFFERSON  DAVIS 


LETTER  FROM  THE  SECRETARY  OF  WAR. 


Confederate  States  of  America,  War  Dep't., 
Richmond,  March  10,  1862. 

To  His  Excellency  the  President : 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  transmit,  herewith,  for  the  in- 
formation of  Congress,  an  official  copy  of  the  report  of  Col. 
Wm.  B.  Taliaferro,  of  the  action  at  Carrock's  Ford  on  the 
13th  day  of  July,  1861. 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

J.  P.  BENJAMIN, 

Secretary  of  War. 


OFFICIAL  REPORT  OF  THE  ACTION  AT  CAR- 
ROCK'S  FORD,  JULY  13,  1861,  COL.  WILLIAM 
B.  TALIAFERRO,  TWENTY-THIRD  VIRGINIA 
VOLUNTEERS,  COMMANDING. 


Monterey,  Va.,  August  10,  1861. 

To  Brigadier -General  H.  R.  Jackson,  Coin'g  Monterey  line  : 

General:  As  no  report  has  been  required  of  me  by  the 
officer  (Col.  Ramsey  of  the  first  Regiment  Georgia  Volun- 
teers) who  succeeded  to  the  command  of  Gen.  Garnett's 
forces  on  the  death  of  that  officer,  of  the  action  at  Car- 
rock's  Ford,  at  which  my  regiment,  with  a  section  of  artil- 
lery, were  engaged  with  the  enemy,  beg,  in  justice  to  the 
officers  and  men  who  were  with  me,  to  make  to  you  a  brief 
report. 

On  the  evening  of  12th  of  July,  Gen.  Garnett  bivouacked 
at  Kalar's  Ford,  on  Cheat  River,  the  rear  of  his  command 
being  about  two  miles  back  on  Pleasant  Run. 

On  the  morning  of  13th  July,  the  command  was  put  in 
motion  about  8  o'clock — the  37th  Virginia,  Col.  Jackson's 
regiment,  and  Lieut.  Colonel  Hansborough's  battalion,  with 
a  section  of  artillery  under  Capt.  Shumaker,  and  a  squadron 
of  cavalry  under  Capt.  Smith,  forming  the  advance;  then 
the  baggage  train,  and  then  Col.  Ramsey's  First  Georgia 
and  the  23d  Arirginia  regiment,  constituting,  with  Lieut. 
Lanier's  section  of  artillery  and  a  cavalry  force  under  Capt. 
Jackson,  the  rear  of  the  command.  Before  the  wagon  train, 
which  was  very  much  impeded  by  the  condition  of  the  coun- 
try roads  over  which  it  had  to  pass — rendered  very  bad  by 
the  heavy  rains  of  the.  preceding  night — had  crossed  the 
first  ford  half  a  mile  above  Kalar's,  the  cavalry  scouts  re- 
ported that  the  enemy  were  close  upon  our  rear  with  a  very 
large  force  of  infantry,  well  supported  by  cavalry  and  ar- 
tillery. The  first  Georgia  regiment  was  immediately  order- 
ed to  take  position  across  the  meadow  on  the  river  side,  and 
hold  the  enemy  in  check  until  the  train  had  passed  the 
river,  and  then  to  ref^Te  behind  the  23d  Virginia  regiment, 
which   was   ordered  to  take   position  and  defend  the   train 


until  the  Georgia  troop?  had  formed  again  in  some  defensi- 
ble position.  By  the  time  the  Georgian's  had  crossed  the 
rivci-.  and   be  •  of  the  companies   of  that  regiment, 

who  were  thrown  <mt  to  ambuscade  the  enemy  could  be 
brought  over,  the  enemy  appeared  in  sight  of  our  troops, 
and  immediately  commenced  firing  upon  them.  This  was 
briskly  returned  by  the  Georgia  regiment,  who.  after  some 
rounds,  retired  in  obedience  to  the  orders  received. 

The    23d    Virginia    and    the    artillery   were    halted    about 

three-quarters  of  a  mile  below  the  crossing,  and  were  order- 
ed to  occupy  a  hill  commanding  the  valley  through  which 
the  enemy  would  have  to  approach,  and  a  wood  which  com- 
manded the  road.  This  position  they  held  until  the  Geor- 
gia regiment  was  formed  some  distance  in  advance  ;  then 
the  former  command  retired  and  again  re-formed  in  advance 
of  the  Georgians.  This  system  of  retiring  upon  eligible 
positions  for  defence,  admirably  selected  by  Capt.  Corley, 
Adjutant  General  to  Gen.  Garnett.  was  pursued  without 
any  loss  on  either  side,  a  few  random  shots  only  reaching 
us  until  we  reached  Carrock's  Ford,  three  and  a  half  miles 
from  Kalar's.  This  is  a  deep  ford,  rendered  deeper  than 
usual  by  the  rains,  and  here  some  of  the  wagons  became 
stalled  in  the  river  and  had  to  be  abandoned. 

The  enemy  were  now  close  upon  the  rear,  which  consist- 
ed of  the  23d  regiment  and  the  artillery,  and  as  soon  as 
this  command  had  crossed,  Capt.  Corley  ordered  me  to  oc- 
cupy the  high  bank  on  the  right  of  the  ford  with  my  regi- 
ment and  the  artillery.  On  the  right  this  position  was  pro- 
tected by  a  fence,  on  the  left  only  by  low  bushes,  but  the 
hill  commanded  the  ford  and  the  approach  to  it  by  the  road, 
and  was  admirably  selected  for  a  defence.  In  a  few  min- 
utes the  skirmishers  of  the  enemy  were  seen  running  along 
the  opposite  bank,  which  was  low  and  skirted  by  a  few  trees, 
and  were  at  first  taken  for  the  Georgians,  who  were  known 
to  have  been  cut  off,  but  we  were  soon  undeceived,  and  a 
hearty  cheer  for  President  Davis  having  been  given  by 
Lieut.  "Washington,  C.  S.  A.,  reiterated  with  a  simultane- 
ous shout  by  the  whole  command,  we  opened  upon  the 
enemy. 

The  enemy  replied  to  us  with  a  heavy  fire  from  their  in- 
fantry and  artillery.  We  could  discover  that  a  large  force 
was  brought  to  attack  us,  but  our  continued  and  well  di- 
rected lire  kept  them  from  crossing  the  river,  and  twice  we 
succeeded  in  driving  them  back  some  distance  from  the  ford. 


They  again,  however,  came  up  with  a  heavy  force  and  re- 
newed the  fight.  The  fire  of  their  artillery  was  entirely 
ineffective,  although  their  shot  and  shell  were  thrown  very 
rapidly,  but  they  all  flew  over  our  heads  without  any  dam- 
age, except  bringing  the  limbs  of  trees  down  upon  us.  The 
working  of  our  three  guns  under  Lieuts.  Lanier,  Washing- 
ton and  Brown  was  admirable,  and  the  effect  upon  the 
enemy  very  destructive.  We  could  witness  the  telling 
effect  of  almost  every  shot. 

After  continuing  the  fight  until  nearly  every  cartridge 
had  been  expended,  and  until  the  artillery  had  been  with- 
drawn by  Gen'l  Garnett's  orders,  and  as  no  part  of  his  com- 
mand was  within  sight  or  supporting  distance,  as  far  as 
I  could  discover,  nor,  as  I  afterwards  ascertained,  within 
four  miles  of  me,  I  ordered  the  regiment  to  retire.  I  was 
induced,  moreover,  to  do  this,  as  I  believed  the  enemy  were 
making  an  effort  to  turn  our  Hanks,  and  without  support  it 
would  have  been  impossible  to  have  held  the  position,  and  as 
already  near  thirty  of  my  men  had  been  killed  and  wounded. 
The  dead  and  severely  wounded  we  had  to  leave  upon  the 
field,  but  retired  in  perfect  order — the  officers  and  men  mani- 
festing decided  reluctance  at  being  withdrawn.  After  march- 
ing half  a  mile,  I  was  met  by  Col.  Starke,  Gen'l  Garnett's 
aid,  who  directed  me  to  move  on  with  my  regiment  to  the 
next  ford,  a  short  distance  in  advance,  where  I  would  over- 
take General  Garnett. 

On  the  further  side  of  this  ford  I  met  Gen'l  Garnett,  who 
directed  me  to  halt  my  regiment  around  the  turn  of  the  road, 
some  hundred  and  fifty  yards  off,  and  to  detail  for  him  ten 
good  riflemen,  remarking  to  me,  "  This  is  a  good  place  be- 
hind this  drift  wood  to  post  skirmishers."  I  halted  the  regi- 
ment as  ordered,  but  from  the  difficulty  of  determining  who 
were  the  best  shots,  I  ordered  Capt.  Tompkins  to  report  to 
the  General  with  his  whole  company.  The  General,  how- 
ever, would  not  permit  them  to  remain  ;  but,  after  selecting 
ten  men  under  Lt.  Depriest,  ordered  the  company  back  to 
the  regiment. 

By  General  Garnett's  orders,  conveyed  by  Col.  Starke,  1 
posted  with  that  officer  three  of  my  companies  on  a  high 
bluff,  overlooking  the  river;  but  finding  the  undergrowth  so 
thick  that  the  approach  of  the  enemy  could  not  be  well  ob- 
served, they  were  withdrawn. 

A  few  minutes  after  these  companies,  rejoined  the  regi- 
ment, Col.  Starke   rode  up   and   said  that   Gen'l  Garnett  di- 


8 

ted  me  to  march  as  rapidly  as  I  could  and  overtake  tire 
main  body.  In  a  few  minutes  afterwards,  Lt.  Depriest  re- 
ported to  me  that  General  Garnett  had  been  killed. 

IK-  fell  just  as  he  gave  the  order  to  the  skirmishers  t  j  re- 
tire, and  one  of  them  was  killed  by  his  side. 

It  gives  me  pleasure  to  tear  testimony  to  the  coolness  and 
spirit  displayed  by  officers  and  men  in  this  affair.  Lieute- 
nant-Colonel Crenshaw  and  Major  Pendleton  set  an  example 
of  courage  and  gallantry  to  the  command,  and  the  company 
of  officers  behaved  admirably,  doing  their  whole  duty.  It 
would  be  invidious,  when  all  behaved  BO  well,  to  distinguish 
between  them. 

The  gallantry  of  Lt.  Washington  was  conspicuous.  After 
the  six  pounder  rifled  piece  had  been  disabled,  and  it  was 
discovered  that  it  had  to  be  abandoned,  he  spiked  it  under  a 
heavy  fire.  It  is  not  my  province,  perhaps,  in  this  report  to 
speak  of  officers  outside  of  my  own  command,  but  1  trust  I 
shall  be  pardoned  for  bearing  testimony  to  the  coolness  and 
judgment  that  characterized  the  conduct  of  Col.  Starke  and 
Capt.  Corley  during  the  whole  of  this  day,  and  afterwards 
on  the  march.  These  officers,  but  more  particularly  the 
latter,  selected  every  position  at  which  our  troops  made  a 
stand,  and  we  were  never  driven  from  one  of  them. 

The  loss  to  the  enemy  in  this  action  must  have  been  very 
great,  as  they  had  from  their  own  account  three  regiments 
engaged;  and  the  people  in  the  neighborhood,  whom  I  have 
seen  since,  report  a  heavy  loss,  which  they  state  the  enemy 
endeavored  to  conceal  by  transporting  the  dead  and  wounded 
back  to  Bealington  in  covered  wagons,  permitting  no  one  to 
approach  them.  After  receiving  the  order  of  General  Har- 
nett, I  marched  my  regiment  four  miles  further  on  to  Par- 
son's Ford,. a  half  mile  beyond  which  I  overtook  the  main 
body  of  our  troops,  who  had  been  halted  there  by  General 
Garnett,  and  which  had  been  drawn  up  to  receive  the  enemy. 
The  enemy  did  not  advance  to  this  Ford,  and  after  halting 
for  some  time,  our  whole  command  moved  forward,  and  march- 
ing all  night  on  the  road  leading  up  the  line  of  Horse  Shoe 
Hun,  reached  about  daylight  the  Red  House  in  Mar  viand,  a 
point  on  the  Northwestern  Turnpike,  near  West  Union.  At 
this  last  place  a  large  force  of  the  enemy,  under  Gen'l  Hill, 
were  concentrated.  This  body  did  not  attack  us,  and  we 
moved  the  same  day  into  Virginia  as  far  as  Greenland,  in 
Hardy  County. 

After  seven  days  arduous  march,  we  reached  this  place. 


I  have  not  thought  it  proper  to  give  any  detailed  account 
of  the  march  of  our  troops,  either  before  or  after  the  action 
at  Carrock's  Ford.  I  subjoin  a  list  of  killed  and  wounded 
in  that  action. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 
(Signed,)  WM.  B.  TALIAFERRO, 

Col.  ComoVg  23d  Regt.   Va.  Vols. 
(Official:)  Jno.  Withers, 

A.  A.   General. 
A.  &  I.  G.  0., 

March  6,  '62. 


11 


LIST  of  Killed  and  Wounded  of  23d  Regiment  Virginia  Vol- 
unteers, at  Carrock's  Ford. 


Name  of  Company. 

Name  of  Captain. 

Name  of  Killed. 

Name  of  Wounded. 

Co.  A 

Louisa  Rifles, 

B.  J.  Walton, 

None. 

None. 

'     B 

Amelia  Grays, 

J.  E.  Perkinson, 

T.  B.  Walthall, 

J.  B.  Walke, 
Ja8.  Walke, 
T.  Hastings, 

'    C 

Amelia  Rifles, 

A.  V.  Scott, 

G.  W.  Lockett, 

1   D 

Louisa  Grays, 

W.  J.  Sargeant, 

J.  T.  Meeks, 

J.  C.  Sanford, 

'    E 

Brooklyn  Grays, 

Wm.  Haynes, 

H.  H.  Haygood, 

P.  P.  Vass, 

'    F 

Goochland  Grays, 

W.  F.  Harrison, 

Serg't  Moody, 

'   B 

Fred'ks  H»  11  Grays, 

C.  G.  Coleman,  Jr., 

I.  H.  Mason, 

Wm.  Smith, 

'   H 

Rich  Sharp  Shooters, 

R.  A.  Tompkins, 

S.  Phillips, 

0.  0.  Beazley, 

'     I 

Central  Guards, 

J.  P.  Fitzgerald, 

Serg't  Venable, 
Irby  King, 
J.  Foster, 

H.  Edmunds, 
T.  W.  Cone, 
D.  Lacy, 

1    ." 

((                  u 

ft             li 

J.  Carter, 
E.  Collins, 

L.  Hines, 

B.  A.  Womack. 

'    K 

Keysville  Guards, 

S.  T.  Walton, 

C.  Mahoney, 

T.  Sock, 

«    «« 

u 

«i       ti 

R.  Orsborne, 

G.  Crenshaw. 

(Official :) 

Jno.  Withers, 

A. 

A.   General. 

A.  & 


I.  G.  0. 

March  6,  '62. 


Hoi  linger  Corp. 
pH8.5 


